ABSTRACT
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) factsheet revealed that 15 million babies are born too early every year and almost 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. The objective of this study was to determine whether cervicovaginal β-hCG level can be used as predictor of preterm delivery in asymptomatic high-risk pregnant women at 24-34 weeks gestation age.Methods: This was prospective observational study. Total 134 asymptomatic pregnant women were taken for study who had at least one risk factor for preterm delivery at 24-34 weeks gestation age. Cervicovaginal secretion was collected and β-hCG level was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay.Results: Out of 134 cases, 42.5% had preterm delivery and 57.5% had term delivery. Mean cervicovaginal β-hCG level (mIU/ml) in preterm delivery group was 39.38±19.66 and term delivery group was 21.86±11.18. Cervicovaginal β-hCG level was significantly higher in preterm group compare to term group demonstrating significant association of raised β-hCG with preterm group (p value <0.001). ROC curve analysis was done to find out best cut off value of cervicovaginal β-hCG for prediction of preterm delivery and optimal cut off value was 36.45 mIU/ml. The optimal cut off value for cervicovaginal β-hCG (36.45 mIU/ml) gave sensitivity 71.9%, specificity 81.8%, positive predictive value 74.5%, negative predictive value 79.7% and diagnostic accuracy of 77.6% for prediction of preterm delivery.Conclusions: Cervicovaginal β-hCG can be used as sensitive and specific biomarker of prediction of preterm delivery in asymptomatic high-risk women.
ABSTRACT
Dermoid cyst (mature cystic teratoma) with well differentiated derivatives of all the three-germ cell layer is a benign tumour with ovaries being the commonest site. Dermoid cyst accounts for more than half of ovarian tumours in girls below 20 years of age. 80% of dermoid cyst are seen in reproductive age group between 20-40 years. Size of dermoid cyst usually varies between 5-10 cm and it may be bilateral in 10% of cases. Malignant transformation is very rare occurrence only in 1-3% cases, however torsion may occur in 15% of dermoid cyst. Carbohydrate antigen or cancer antigen 19-9 is usually raised in gastrointestinal tumours, pancreatic malignancy, pseudocyst of pancreas. However, it may be raised in some other malignancies and benign condition like torsion of dermoid cyst. Authors report an unusual case of torsion large dermoid cyst with tissue necrosis along with significantly elevates levels of serum CA 19-9. A 30-year-old P1L1 female presented with chief complaint of heaviness and pain lower abdomen and loss of five kilogram weight for last three months. A provisional diagnosis of dermoid was made. Serum CA 19-9 level were 1126 IU significantly raised. An exploratory laparotomy done under regional anaesthesia. A large demoid cyst 12*10 cm with torsion and areas of gangrene in ovarian tissue was seen replacing left ovary. Large and small intestine, stomach, pancreas were explored to rule out any pathology. Histopathology confirmed diagnosis of mature cystic teratoma. There was significant fall in serum Ca 19-9 levels to 247 U/ml two weeks after surgery and levels returned to normal limit six weeks after surgery.
Subject(s)
Adult , Back/pathology , Humans , Leiomyomatosis/pathology , Male , Skin Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
We describe three cases (one male and two females) of faun tail nevi, which is one of the most important cutaneous marker of spinal dysraphism. One of the patients presented with acro-osteolysis leading to auto amputation of the toes of the left foot, which required operative intervention. This lays stress on the early recognition of lumbar paraspinal skin lesions and early treatment to avoid irreversible sequelae.